FRESNO, Calif. – In a battle of unbeatens in the early part of the season, Fresno State was held to one shot on goal while Pepperdine capitalized on two of their four on Friday afternoon at Bulldog Soccer Stadium to defeat the Bulldogs, 2-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Close attempts were coming early with two from Pepperdine and one for Fresno State in the first five minutes. Valentina Vivas was forced to come flying out off her line and make a sliding stop near the edge of her box in the opening two minutes. Adriana Maldonado tested Waves keeper Taylor Rath less than three minutes later. Pepperdine's Julia Quinonez saw an open net 30 seconds later at the other end but freshman Katie Morris got her body on the ball to knock it out of harm's way.
A counter from the 'Dogs in the 25th nearly broke the deadlock but Kaya Scott's first-time strike inside the box went wide. It didn't take the Waves long to capitalize on the missed opportunity. Just before the water break in the 26th minute. A corner for the visitors led to a header in the side netting from Peyton Leonard.
Megan Galvan looked for the equalizer in the 43rd minute but the senior's strike across the face of goal sizzled just wide of the top right corner.
The Waves doubled their advantage in the 56th minute. Again from a cross off the foot of Skylar Enge, she set up Karina Gonzalez in the box to put Pepperdine up 2-0.
NOTES
Fresno State dropped to 1-5-1 all-time against Pepperdine.
The 'Dogs were outshot for the second-straight match, 6-5, but the Waves held a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will host Long Beach State on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for noon PT at Bulldog Soccer Stadium.